Protecting Medicaid, and more

March 21, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday!

Tuesday's Medicaid rally at the Capitol was part of a nationwide day of action by members of Congress that brought together state and federal leaders, healthcare workers, advocates, and Medicaid recipients.  The rally aimed to warn of the consequences should Congress approve drastic reductions to Medicaid funding. 

Medicaid serves hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable people in our state, including children on the Husky program, people with disabilities, and seniors.


As you can see in the graphic below there are many New Haven residents that will be directly affected by these federal funding cuts. Unfortunately our students are set to lose the most.  
  • New Haven City Schools receive $68.5 million in federal funding
  • 72,815 New Haven residents receive healthcare through Medicaid
  • 42,907 New Haven residents benefit from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

In this week's eblast, you can read about avoiding problem gambling, free tax return preparation, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
 
Next Week's Public Hearings

There are seven public hearings scheduled next week. Visit this website for information on how to testify on a bill at a public hearing.

If you're interested in testifying or watching a public hearing you can see the schedule for next week below:
 
Avoiding Problem Gambling

As March Madness heats up, here's a reminder not to get too carried away.

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a nationwide campaign to promote prevention, treatment, and recovery services for problem gamblers.

This year's theme, “Seeking Understanding,” focuses on increasing awareness of problem gambling as a serious but often misunderstood mental health condition.

The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates about 2 million people in the U.S. meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem, while another 4 million to 6 million people experience mild or moderate issues. The cost to the country -- $14 billion annually – is incredibly steep. Yet the ability to place a sports-related bet has never been easier – in most cases just a few clicks on a smartphone.

The lower barriers to place bets and the removal of the social stigma on gambling has had devastating consequences for some. Indeed, one of the most vulnerable demographics to problem gambling are youths. The NCPG and Responsible Play CT cite data that shows more than 75% of college students have gambled in the last year.

There are state and national resources for help.
  • Responsible Play CT offers information and a toolkit on problem gambling.
  • The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling offers trained helpline specialists who connect callers to free, immediate support & treatment options in Connecticut. Its number is 888-789-7777.
  • The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (860-344-2244) offers problem gambling services.
  • The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
  • The NCPG's problem gambling toolkit can be found by clicking here.
 
Free Tax Return Preparation

Tax season is upon us. There are several free resources available this year for anyone who needs to file state and federal taxes.

You can use the IRS Direct File Tool, which is a new option for anyone who lived and earned all their income in Connecticut last year.

Click here for more information on IRS Direct File Tool.

The federal government is also offering the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which offers free tax preparation services to eligible taxpayers. Here is some of the eligibility date for VITA:

  • Household income less than $68,000
  • If self-employed, business expenses should be less than $35,000
  • No income from a rental property
 
New Haven's Legislative Update

Thank you to everyone that attended the Fair Haven town hall recently! It was wonderful to hear from you and know what's on your mind. As a reminder, I hope you'll also join me and State Senator Gary Winfield for a legislative update Saturday, March 29 at 2:30pm at the Wilson Library (303 Washington Ave., New Haven)!
 

Sincerely,

Juan Candelaria
State Representative

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